Ira Takes Blame For London Bomb Found By Police

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February 18, 1996

LONDON — The Irish Republican Army acknowledged Saturday it was responsible for planting a small bomb in London on Thursday that was discovered by police before it could explode. The claim of responsibility came in a telephone call to the British Broadcasting Corp.

On Feb. 9, the IRA called off its 17-month cease-fire and promptly set off a large bomb in east London that caused massive destruction and killed two men.

Police swept through southern England last week and arrested several people in connection with the bombing. Some of them have since been released, police said Saturday.

Nearly 3,200 people have died in the 24-year sectarian campaign to drive Britain out of Northern Ireland.